The majority of bonsai gardeners stick with the more common coniferous, deciduous, or fruit trees when creating their bonsai art collection. However, more exotic bonsai varieties can be found that permit the bonsai artist to further develop his or her skills.

An example of an exotic choice is Wisteria, a plant native to Japan, Korea, and China which can reach more than 30 feet in size in the wild. Not conforming to any of the traditional bonsai styles, Wisteria can make for an interesting challenge.

With both beautiful and aromatic flowers that come in a variety of colors, such as, white, pink, blue and purple, Wisteria can be an excellent choice. Wisteria blooms in the Spring at which time they need lots of water but with adequate drainage. Wisteria does well in a wide range of lighting conditions, from partial shade to full sun. To maintain healthy plants, be sure to provide them with ample fertilizer just prior to they bloom in the Spring and once again in late summer prior to losing their leaves.

Orange Jasmine is another alternative that will give both beauty to the eye and delight to the nose. Their wonderfully fragrant white flowers are accompanied by bright red fruit.

Feed Orange Jasmine every three to four weeks starting in early spring and continuing through mid-autumn. Only light watering is adequate for most of the year, with slightly more required in the hotter summer season.

Because they generally do better in moderate shade or filtered sun, Orange Jasmine is one of the few bonsai that can, and should be raised indoors.

The Mimosa tree, also sometimes known as silk trees due to their long silky filaments, offer another good choice. They are as fragrant as both of the two choices mentioned above and their puffy flowers and lacy foliage are also just as lovely.

Moderate water should be provided to the Mimosa during the blooming season which is from late April to early July. However, care should be given to avoid getting water on the flowers themselves, since the flowers will rapidly deteriorate when wet, much like a number of other flowering plants.

Be sure to give your Mimosa plenty of room in your display area as the Mimosa will be one of the larger bonsai in your collection. Because they grow rapidly and have large leaves, they are difficult to sustain in a very small size.

The Desert Rose is another exotic bonsai that can turn a rather run-of-the-mill collection into one full of interest and color. A native of East Africa, it can grow up to 10 feet in the wild, producing large, pink, trumpet-bowl blossoms.

The Desert Rose should be kept outside most of the year as they need ample sunshine and lots of fresh air. With their very bushy growing habit, they will make an excellent design complement to the many traditional bonsai in your collection.

However, the Desert Rose is sensitive to cold, so they should be brought indoors in cold climates or during periods of cold weather as they will not thrive in temperatures below 10C (50F). With temperatures in the 10C-15C (50F-60F) range, they will lie dormant and healthy and during this period they will need very little water.

Try your hand at some of these exotic beautiful and fragrant flowering plants to expand your horizon and further develop your bonsai gardening skills. They provide a nice contrast when placed among some of the more standard evergreens, such as, pines, firs, and junipers. Additionally, as they lose their leaves in the fall and bloom in the spring, you'll have an interesting ever-changing display.